Are You Well-Intentioned? – Abide in the Vine

Once at a get-to-know-you event, former procrastinators, each of us was asked to name one word we thought described us.  I wimped out with a hyphenated one:  “Well-intentioned.”  I look back at that now and think I just wimped out period.  What was I thinking?  Was I feeling discouraged about something?  Did I want those ladies to know I meant well?  About what?

My choice was a little strange, but worth pondering.  I was still a pretty active procrastinator at that time.  (Is “active procrastinator” an oxymoron?)  Therefore, I had a lot of failures from not doing what I intended.  “Failures” meaning I intended to be ready on time, intended to deal with some things, intended to make decisions, but I just kept missing the mark.  I was constantly behind.  I didn’t feel like a failure as a person, but I was tired and frustrated in the “doing department.”  That included some things like reading, studying and having fun.  I didn’t “get to stuff.”  Daily requirements were taking all my time and I still wasn’t fulfilling those well.  But I meant to.

My intentions were good; my execution was poor.  There are several reasons I was like that. I saw things as optional that were not.  I had a poor sense of time.  I focused on how I felt.  I had other priorities.  I was overwhelmed.  Etc.  Definitely, I let self rule in the moment which meant I was a waffler.

Years ago, I was on a committee discussing the struggles some well-intentioned ladies were having about a social situation.  Someone asked why the issue was an issue.  The lady in charge answered, “Because not everybody has settled that like you have.  You know what you will do; you’re settled. They struggle every time they’re presented with it.”

That’s sort of how procrastinators are.  No matter the issue – or with some particular ones – procrastinators waffle.  They wobble and wrestle whenever a task/ the task comes up.  They intend to get it done, but something is missing between intention and completion.

The Bible addresses moving from intention to completion. It often speaks of our feet as a way of addressing our behavior.

“Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established.” (Proverbs 4:26 NKJV)  ESV says “and all your ways will be sure.”

In other words, consider what I intend and what I’m doing about it so that my conduct is consistently and constantly what the Lord directs.  There’ll be no gap between my intention and my conduct.  My conduct will be settled.

Do you feel well-intentioned?  Do you feel like a waffler?  You’re not alone.  However, when our intentions are what the Lord directs AND we take diligent action on that path, our behavior is settled.  It’s part of abiding in the Vine.  This month, we’ll examine our intentions.

What decision or task are you waffling about?